#sage recap

[wonderpetals]

generation three: daisy & kumiko

daisy tinker is the second youngest of six kids in a loving and chaotic blended family. meanwhile, kumiko watanabe is an only child from a broken family and was raised by her very traditional grandparents who expected all work and no play.

daisy and miko met in high school and fell in love at a very young age. daisy graduated high school early and wanted to start her life, but her parents made her wait until she finished university before she was allowed to marry her high school sweetheart. while daisy was in uni, miko worked two jobs in order to help save up for their dream which was to have a farm and raise plants and animals (and babies).

when daisy's moms sadly passed away, daisy's inheritance gave them the rest of the money they needed to buy their farmhouse and live their dream.

[toxiccrybabyart]

[tenshiharmonia]

Bayonetta Recap - Part 2

        I - Characters

    A - Humans

Máni, Umbran warlock

- Contracted demon : Baphomet (see below)

- Weapons : "The Sound of Silence" (a set of four guns : "Touch", "Disturb", "Echo" and "Whisper") ; "Lionheart" (a demonic sword, powered by the hell-twisted soul of a warmongering king) ; "Fenris" (Máni's equivalent to Durga and Undine*, a set of elemental, claw-like weapons imbued with the devastating powers of the twin demon wolves Sköll and Hati (see below)) ; "Incubus" (a whip, powered by the infernal essence of Lust ; it won’t leave the enemy indifferent... :3 ) ; a chainsaw (I don’t know about its name yet, but unlike Salamandra from the second game, this one would be wielded two-handedly, like an actual chainsaw)

* Note that while I conceive most of his weapons as parallels to Bayonetta’s own arsenal, they would not be simple palette swaps like Jeanne’s. They would all have their own design and specificities. Heck, I don’t really like how most of Jeanne’s weapons are merely recolours of Cereza’s, so if this was an actual game, I would probably give her her own arsenal too...

- Animal forms : Lion ; Vulture ; Honey Bee* ; (moray ?) Eel

* I know that, technically speaking, bees are mostly females, but a) this is a magical transformation so it doesn’t have to make sense, b) it would actually make for an interesting commentary on Máni’s position as a male member of a predominantly feminine clan, and c) the prospect of my Umbra boy turning into an adorably fluffy swarm of bees overrules any objection you might have anyway. :p

- I ultimately chose to name him after the Scandinavian god of the Moon. Since a lot of things and characters in the Bayonetta universe are named in reference to Norse mythology, one of the few pantheons in the world where the personification of the Moon is traditionally regarded as male, it was too much of a perfect fit for me to not name my Umbra boy as such.

- Messy and rather short black hair (I considered giving him some kind of fluffy ponytail, or maybe a Keith-like mullet, but I’m not sure) ; eyes of gold

- Physically, I imagine him as a reasonably fit and manly kind of guy. I think that the technical term for what I would like him to look like is a twunk. :3 Not too buff, but not a femboy either. Not that I dislike curvaceous men, but I feel like making him too feminine would kind of betray the point of a male Umbra Witch, if that makes any sense.

- Of course, he would still fight with all the flamboyance and sensuality of a proud inheritor of the Umbra will. :3

- In terms of clothes, he would obviously be wearing the same kind of skin-tight catsuit as Bayo and Jeanne, but I must admit that I don’t really have any idea regarding the details. Colour-wise, I think that he would stick to black leather (well, Umbra Witches’ clothes are technically made of hair, but you catch my drift) with gold accents and ornaments. It may not be particularly original, but I love how it looks. All in all, I kind of imagine him wearing an outfit similar to the one that Chat Noir wears in Miraculous Ladybug. It’s just a mental placeholder, of course, but I guess that it at least gives you a point of reference...

- Speaking of Chat Noir though, I must say that I really like the idea of the collar bell. I could definitely picture Máni wearing something similar. I like to think that his esthetic would be a little more punkish than Cereza’s, so maybe he could even have the bell attached to a spiked collar. It would certainly make for an amusing contrast between ferocious and adorable... I don’t know if I’ll actually commit to the idea - as far as imagination goes, that is -, but I thought it was worth mentioning. I mean, it would certainly fit his character as I envision it. He is a (big) cat boy, after all. (Then again, it would probably not work so well when he transforms into a lion, since the collar and the bell would basically be swallowed by the fluff of his mane. Admittedly though, nobody said that he would have to wear them in all his forms...)

- At the very least, I’d like him to wear a pair of fingerless leather gloves. With sharp and impeccably manicured (and maybe even painted) claw-like nails. I mean, it’s not because I said that I don’t want him to come off as too feminine that he cannot take care of himself. :p (I’m still on the fence about the guyliner, though. I love it in theory, but I’m not sure it would actually suit him all that much...)

- In addition to the gloves, he would probably also wear spiked bracelets, in accordance with the aforementioned punk esthetic...

- At this point, I’m starting to wonder if I might be subconsciously trying to make him look like (the) Rum Tum Tugger, and now that I’m saying it out loud, I could totally see Máni being a fan of Cats (the musical), having some "I don't know if I want to be him or date him" kind of crush on the Curious Cat. (Apollonia, meanwhile, would probably have a soft spot for the ballet cats, Victoria and Mistoffelees... What am I saying, "probably" ? We all know that her brother made her watch the play at least once. And having quite an appreciation for music, there is no doubt that she liked it too...)

- Is always wearing a pair of sunglasses atop his head but rarely uses them for their intended purpose

- I also reserve the right to give him a boob window and pierced nipples... :3

- Friendly and carefree, he’s got quite a sunny disposition for someone who is an accomplished practitioner of the dark arts

- Has a big fondness for animals. He is the kind of guy who will say "hi !" to every cat and dog that he meets on the street. And most of the time, they will actually answer him. In fact, I was toying with the idea that he could genuinely possess the ability to talk to animals. Since his main animal form is a lion, the "king of the beasts", it would be quite fitting. I’m still on the fence about it, but it could easily be something that Baphomet taught him (although I must admit that I find the idea of it just being some sort of innate power of his that nobody - Baphomet included - has any actual explanation for to be infinitely amusing XD ).

- When he is not busy carrying out his Umbran duties or partaking in Glitnir’s management, he works as a veterinarian, taking care of the town’s cattle and other animal residents (I mean, if Bayonetta can be a nun and Jeanne a school teacher, why couldn’t he have a side job too ? :p ).

- Unlike his sister, who is a pretty cautious tactician, he is more of a "hype man" type of leader. To quote a comment I read somewhere, he is the kind of guy who can rile up his crew into thinking that a 50 versus 100 is winnable and then actually have the balls to pull it off. He may not be as sharp as Apollonia, but he is still a pretty resourceful lad...

- He would definitely have a leather harness with a spiked speedo as one of his alternative costumes. I mean, considering what the developers of the games already got away with, you cannot really tell me it would be too inappropriate. XD Besides, I’m pretty sure that I once saw such a harness that had its straps arranged to form a pentagram. Since the five-pointed star - inverted or not - is a big part of Baphomet’s iconography, it would be all the more fitting. :3

- If this was an actual Bayonetta game, I like to think that he would be the third playable character. Bayonetta 1 had Bayo, Jeanne and Zero ; Bayonetta 2 had Bayo, Jeanne and Rosa ; well, this hypothetical game (let’s call it Bayonetta 69, just for the LOLs*) would have Bayo, Jeanne and Máni. Unlike the first two games though, I’d like for each of the three characters to have their own, individual campaign. Of course, similarly to a Sonic Adventure game, the three stories would actually be interconnected, forming one big narrative, and the player would have to complete all three of them to get the whole picture (and maybe unlock the final part of the plot). I mean, this is not an actual game, so I can be as ambitious as I want. :p Also, I think that his personal quirk – like Jeanne’s more powerful but more difficult to execute Witch Time – would be related to his Wicked Weaves, to emphasis once again the bond between his demons and him, but I must admit that I don’t have a good enough mastery of the gameplay to suggest something that would actually be of interest...

* Funnily enough, the shape of the number sixty-nine also brings to mind the image of the yin-yang symbol, which is actually quite fitting since Máni and Apollonia’s story is all about the balance between the contrasting forces of light and darkness...

- As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I was toying with the idea of giving him a demon boyfriend. I’m still on the fence about it, but I have a big soft spot for this kind of otherworldly relationship, so I’d be quite tempted to actually take the plunge and incorporate the idea in the narrative. Either way, I wanted to at least bring up the possibility, just in case... :3

- Like Cereza, he is also a pretty skilled pole dancer

Apollonia, Priestess of Lumen

- Weapons : a long and narrow, rapier-like sword

- Animal forms : (arctic ?) Fox

- As you can tell, I named her after Apollo, the Greek god of light, arts and healing. Really, I think that her character resonates quite well with a lot of Apollo’s attributes, so it wasn’t a hard pick. Besides, if Máni’s name references the Moon, it only makes sense for Apollonia’s to reference the Sun, and being named after gods from two different mythologies allows the solar/lunar duality to be a little less in-your-face. All in all, one would say that it was quite an enlightened choice :3 (sorry, I couldn't help myself).

- Long and wavy golden hair ; purple eyes (in reference to the last line of Arthur Rimbaud's poem Vowels : "Omega, O, the violet brilliance of Those eyes"*)

* Translation by George J. Dance (2015). The original line is : "O l'Oméga, rayon violet de Ses yeux". It's never been confirmed, but the way Rimbaud capitalized the word "Ses" (which can mean either "his" or "her", depending on the context) has led many critics to infer that he was indeed talking about God's very eyes, although some have suggested that he was merely referring to the purplish pupils of some woman. Of course, nobody ever said that the two were incompatible. :3 My Lumen girl may not be a goddess, but still, I thought it would make for a neat reference. Besides, violet eyes and golden hair make for a lovely contrast.

- She is an infallibly poised and affable soul, always carrying herself with a radiant sense of grace and courtesy

- More cunning and cynical than her brother, she is the one with the vision. While Máni carries out most of the field work, it’s Apollonia who is the main driving force of the plan... whatever it might be.

- She is the kind of person who constantly feels the need to shoulder all the misery in the world. She is a nurturing soul and genuinely means well, so you won’t find an ounce of condescension in the way she acts, but she does have the tendency to assume that she knows better. She is perfectly willing to dirty her hands and hurt those she cares about (emotionally, that is) if she is positively convinced that it is for their own greater good, in a "I know that you don't like it, but trust me : when all is said and done, you'll realize that it was for the best..." kind of way.

- Her magical abilities include healing and illusions (in reference to the kitsune of Japanese folklore, since her main animal form is a fox). Actually, I really like the idea of the leader of an antagonistic faction not being the most powerful member of the group but having amazing support skills. Of course, Apollonia is no slouch either on the battlefield, but it’s when she is assisting another fighter that she really shines. Don’t underestimate her, though : when fighting alone - or at least as alone as an angel-summoning Sage can be -, the sharpness of her wits (and of her blade) more than makes up for what she lacks in raw power...

- Has a deep passion for music. Before the Clan War, she was even tasked with writing and composing the sacred hymns that the Sages would use, both in their spiritual training and in their everyday life.

- In her spare time, she conducts a literal choir of Applauds and Affinities. They have surprisingly (or unsurprisingly, depending on your point of view*) melodious voices.

* I mean, they are basically bird angels, two things that are actually quite renowned for their beautiful singing...

- She also has at her disposal her own heavenly orchestra, in case she suddenly needs to break into a musical number. Angels are the "instruments" of God, after all. :p (Seriously though, I really like to imagine that most of the themes associated with her would indeed be diegetically performed by her personal orchestra of angels. Also, since the Laguna are known to attack Bayo with all kinds of magical instruments, it would be quite funny if said orchestra were not only providing the music for the battle, but also supporting Apollonia during her fight(s) against the Witch, shooting all sorts of laser beams and energy balls at Cereza while she is busy dodging the Sage’s holy blade. That would certainly make for quite a hectic battle. XD )

- She also regularly graces the stage of Glitnir’s opera house with her presence. The way I envision it, it’s actually her dream to work as an opera singer. But since she’s been pretty busy for the last five hundred years, looking after the town and plotting whatever grand design she had in mind for the future of the universe, she didn’t really get to devote herself to it more than as a hobby. After all is said and done, I like to think that she’ll actually embrace it as a genuine side job (I mean, she’d still have the town and her duties as a Lumen Sage to take care of, but her heart and mind would certainly be much lighter after the events of the game). Also, I like to imagine that one of the game’s chapters would involve Bayo crashing one of her recitals...

- Not unlike another angel-related music lover, I like to think that her favourite music piece would be Beethoven’s "Ode to Joy" (from the fourth movement of his ninth Symphony*). Which is actually quite funny, considering that she has a Joy angel as one of her heavenly friends. I don’t really know what to do of this coincidence, but I thought it was worth mentioning...

* I must admit, even though I know it’s not its actual name, I kind of prefer how we usually refer to it as in French : "l'Hymne à la Joie", "the Hymn - or Anthem - to Joy". I feel like it better encapsulates the sublimity of the piece...

- In contrast to her brother’s passion for animals, she also has a liking for botany. Naturally, she loves to sing to her flowers.

- To keep with the trend of Bayonetta characters often including some kinds of glasses or goggles in their designs (as I did with her brother and his shades), she is often seen carrying a pair of elegant opera glasses. You know, those fancy binoculars attached to a stick. It would certainly suits her penchant for theatrics, on top of being an amusing twist on the aforementioned trend.

- Clothing-wise, she certainly has a wardrobe worthy of a Lumen Sage, favouring flowing and immaculate gowns with gold accents. I’m not sure if that makes much sense, but I would like to describe her style as "opulently simple". She doesn’t wear a lot of accessories, but the way she dresses gives off an air of loftiness and sophistication that really highlights her gracious bearing.

- She also has at her disposal her own angelic tailor. All in all, she actually has quite an extensive wardrobe. I wouldn’t really call her "fashionable", though. At least not in the way Cereza and Jeanne might be. It has more to do with the way she sees the world as a stage, so naturally, she likes to dress the part.

- I also like to think that most of her clothes would include parts cut in some sort of translucent and glittering tulle-like fabric. A bit like the Pearls in Steven Universe, if you see what I mean, but a tad sparklier...

- She also has a noticeable affinity for shawls and stoles. I mean, she is essentially a bishop, so it would make sense, but I was mainly thinking of the kind of stole that you wrap around your arms and let gracefully hang in your back and on your sides (I don’t really know how to describe what I have in mind, so don’t hesitate to tell me if it’s not clear enough).

- Note that the two previous points can overlap

- It’s rarer, but she also likes the combo pants plus frilled shirt. (I don’t know what they are called, but I’m talking about those flared pants that always look like they were freshly ironed. They are usually worn high with large, obi-like belts...)

- I also like to think that when she feels particularly extra, she dons a similar headgear to the one that adorns the Lumen Sage statues that guard the interdimensional portals scattered across Vigrid : a gold ornament shaped like a radiant sun, attached at the back of her head like a divine halo (I did say "when she feels particularly extra" XD ). She probably ties her hair into a bun when donning this kind of ornament.

- Since I don’t know if the peacock esthetic that Balder has going on is a common trend among Lumen Sages or something that is exclusive to him, I’ll probably refrain from including it in my Lumen girl’s design, but it’s quite a shame, because I love peacock feathers. Still, if Balder is any indication, Sages seem to use feathers to channel their magic, the same way Witches use their hair. So even if I don’t want Apollonia’s esthetic to be a simple imitation of Balder’s, I should probably think of a substitute. It’s quite hard to come up with something as exquisite and visually distinct as peacock feathers, though. I mean, there is a lot of magnificent birds, but when you look at their feathers individually, it’s quite a different story. I was actually thinking maybe superb lyrebird feathers - it would certainly fit Apollonia’s character -, but I must admit that I have quite a hard time imagining those feathers being used the same way as Balder’s...

[sileniadream]

[baeshijima]

— how to woo the acting grand sage 101

wherein you pull out all the stops in an effort to persuade alhaitham on why he should date you, only… he woos you instead?!

CONTAINS : gn!reader, 7.8k wc, fluff, (attempts at) humour, angst if you squint, reader gets ill from overwork in one part, slight spoilers for 3.2 archon quest (brief mentions/recap of end events)

A/N : reader is struggling but they’re trying their best, alhaitham is a (smitten) menace and bad at feelings (kinda); the embodiment of u fall first, he falls harder (i just think we need more energetic/cute readers with haitham TヘT)

It wasn’t anything special. Really. Just you, your first day jitters, and the calm boy beside you in his Haravatat beret; the same one as yours.

Perhaps he’d noticed your flitting eyes, your shifting feet, or your wrung hands that swung gently in front of your robe-clad body because, when your eyes met (and, oh, what pretty eyes he had), he gave you a small nod. Of what? Comfort? Acknowledgement? Salutations?

You couldn’t tell, and you couldn’t ask. By the time you regained your senses he’d already walked off, the blank space beside you feeling strangely empty.

It wasn’t anything special.

But to you, that one, singular moment was all you needed; the comfort it gave was immeasurable, your first day jitters nonexistent.

--

You soon found out his name: Alhaitham. The boy in the matching Haravatat beret, the one who gave you a simple nod, and the one who sat in front of you in class.

As far as first impressions went, he was in your good books! Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for your classmates or your professor. He was aloof and indifferent to your peers, sometimes riling them up with his blunt remarks or blatantly ignoring their presence. As for the professor’s apparent dislike, it was most likely due to him rarely attending class after the first week or so (something about self-study being a better use of his time, if you recalled correctly).

But even so, through all the harsh whispers and scorn you saw surround him, no one could deny his academic prowess. How could they when the scores and praise spoke for itself?

In all honesty, you don’t remember when or how Alhaitham accepted your presence amongst others. It took you a while, sure, but he eventually began taking time out of his own to converse with you. Passing conversations soon turned to greeting each other a good morning and bidding the other a farewell, which then turned to late night study sessions in the House of Daena, which then became a regular hangout spot for you both, and so on and so forth.

Oddly enough, knowing you were the only one he would tolerate was somehow rewarding. While he paid no heed to the world around him and moved at his own tempo, you’d always find him waiting for you up ahead.

In that sense, you were comforted by the idea he would be willing to wait for you — and, undoubtedly, you would wait for him too.

--

Fast forward a few years and you’re now stuck in a long-term unrequited love for the scribe of the Akademiya.

Lovely.

You’ve had a lot to reflect on these past few years (most of which you’d rather not recall), but one thing seemingly remains stagnant; you love Alhaitham. That’s been something you have long-since accepted, and something you’re sure the entirety of Sumeru City are aware of by now.

While you definitely weren’t one to shy away from your (blatantly obvious) feelings, it doesn’t mean you flaunted your love at every opportunity presented. In fact, you were pretty happy with how things are now!

But, well, you only live once, as they say. And, by process of elimination, that just means you should act on your feelings so that you can either finally move on, or land yourself the most eligible bachelor in Teyvat!

(No one other than yourself thinks that, but hey! One is better than none!)

And so that was the origin story for your journey — Operation: “Get Alhaitham to Fall In Love With Me” was then set into motion!

Step 1: Be upfront with your feelings!

Confess to Alhaitham.

You can do that.

All you have to do is strut up to Alhaitham, ask him to hear you out for a moment, (metaphorically) spill your heart out to the man of your dreams, and anticipate a response! A positive one, preferably.

Easy enough, right?

Well, that’s what it should be. So why is it that you’re now pacing back and forth in front of his office door, mentally rehearsing your pre-written confession you spent too many sleepless nights redrafting until you were somewhat satisfied?

A severe oversight on your part, that’s what.

Hm, maybe I should wait another day. The timing doesn’t feel quite right, and the weather is a bit gloomy for a confession. Yeah, maybe I can just head back and pretend I wasn’t even here—

“I can hear you pacing back and forth even with my earpieces on.”

At the familiar, low intonation, you freeze. Body stiff, you slowly turn your head to the man leaning cross-armed against the door frame, an unimpressed look greeting you.

Crap. Was I really that loud...?

With one brow raised and a slight frown tugging his lips, he gives a once-over at your haggard appearance. It doesn’t take long for his expression to morph into one of concern as he takes a step away from the door frame and closer to you.

“Are you alright?” he asks, eyes honed in on yours; or more specifically, the area under your eyes. “You look like you haven’t slept for a decade.”

It sure feels much longer than that...

“I’m alright. I think. Wait. That’s not important right now,” you stammer, head shaking to regain your resolve. Ignoring the judgemental look cast upon you, you lift your head to meet his gaze, fists clenching in an effort to disperse your nerves. “I have something I want to tell you.”

“What is it?”

And with a deep breath and eyes squeezed shut, you blurt out, “I think you’re really good-looking! I really like you, too! Like, a lot! And you have super pretty eyes! And really fluffy hair! And you’re really smart, though you can be a bit of a pain... And... And you have a nice physique!”

Silence.

Under the weight of his blank stare and the impending doom known as ‘silence’, it takes a drawn out second for a horrified gasp to escape you. Belatedly, you realise your absolute abomination of a screw-up — an insatiable urge for the ground to swallow you whole consumes all remaining sense of rationale (which isn’t all that much, really).

Aaaaaaahhhh I went completely off script!!

Perhaps sensing your next move, Alhaitham snaps out of his stupor and begins reaching out for you. “Wait—”

“Ha-Have a good night!”

And then you’re sprinting off into who knows where, leaving Alhaitham stranded at his office doorway with an arm outstretched in your fading direction and a dumbfounded expression settled on his features.

Disgruntled, he rubs the bridge of his nose, the heat washing over him doing little to help reorganise his thoughts. “It’s eight in the morning, not eight in the evening...”

(Alhaitham’s never been more grateful for his soundproof earpieces. Not only does it tune out the outside world at his beck and call, but it also prevents you from seeing the tips of his ears stained a scarlet hue; this being one time out of the many.)

Mission Status: Success...?

Step 2: Give him flowers! A bouquet never hurt anyone!

“Tighnari!”

At the call of his name, Tighnari’s ears flick and perk up. In a swift movement, he turns his head to witness you dashing towards him with a grin, hands waving manically in the air.

“How many times have I told you not to run?” he tuts, head shaking in exasperation. But even with his nagging, you can still detect the smile seizing his lips from a mile away as he begins approaching to meet you halfway.

When you come to a stop in front of him, you merely beam. “Not enough times!”

“Clearly.”

“Anyway,” you begin, “as much as I’d love to stay and chat, have you prepared what I asked for?”

He scoffs at your request, “Of course. Just who do you take me for?”

“The bestest, most reliable friend ever, of course!”

You don’t think you’ve ever witnessed someone switch to a deadpan so quickly before.

“Buttering up to me only goes so far, y’know.”

Amidst your grumbles and his chuckles, he leads you back to his house in Gandharva Ville. You’ve always enjoyed the Forest Watcher’s presence, and you’re glad he’s happier now compared to his time in the Akademiya. 

The trek back was filled with your usual back-and-forth, lively chatter making its way up and filling the air.

(“Oh, is that a new essential oil?”

“So you’ve noticed. I see your sense of smell is evolving.”

“Well, it’s an entirely different scent from the last one, and I think I’d have to be a little nose-blind to not notice.”)

When you make it back to his abode, you find a bouquet already neatly wrapped up and propped against the wall. A sweet, calm aroma wades through the air, becoming more potent the closer you get.

Simply put, it’s perfect.

With this, I can move on from my previous embarrassment!

“Thank you again, Tighnari. I owe you one. Oh,” you gasp upon remembering something, “and be sure to send my regards to Collei.”

“Don’t mention it,” he responds with a smile and a nod to your request before bidding you farewell. “Be careful on your way back! Be mindful of your step and any stray roots in the ground. Wouldn’t want you to trip and tumble down, after all.”

“I thought we were past that already...”

--

“What?!”

“Apologies,” the scholar in front of you replies, scratching the back of his neck in a sheepish manner. “Scribe Alhaitham left earlier in the day to explore some ancient runes in the desert...”

You’re pretty sure your heart just cracked.

“It can’t be...” you murmur. The bouquet in your hand feels heavy, just like your heart.

The scholar panics at your apparent dejection, wracking his brain in an attempt to rectify the predicament at hand. “When he comes back, I could tell him you were looking for him?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll just... see him when I see him...”

You manage a small smile at his efforts, but the scholar only spirals into further panic when you trudge away with a gloomy aura hanging above.

I’m sorry, Tighnari. I’ve failed you and your botany skills...

Mission Status: Fail...

Step 3: Show him you can be dependable!

It’s a good day.

The sun’s out, the birds are chirping, and there’s not a single cloud up in the sky!

Yeah, it’s a good day if you ignore the stacks of paperwork piled up on your desk.

Dejectedly, you sigh and slump against the wood. You can already feel the forthcoming headache from just a single glance at the blurred words. Ideally, you wish everything could just be signed and done with at the mere thought. Realistically, you know that’s next to impossible.

...Maybe putting off your work and procrastinating wasn’t the smartest of decisions but, well, it’s too late now! Guess you’ll just have to suck it up and pull a couple all-nighters. Nothing out of the ordinary, unfortunately.

“Well,” you sigh to yourself, stretching your arms overhead, “good luck to me, I guess...”

(Distantly, you hear Alhaitham’s voice in the back of your mind reprimand you for leaving your work to later, but you swat the thoughts away without missing a beat and get started on the first pile.)

--

“[...me].”

“[Nam...].”

“[Name]!”

You gasp, shooting up from your slouched position. Though you come to regret the action when a sharp pang pierces through your conscience, eliciting a harsh wince to leave you. Immediately you fall forward and clutch your head, another pair of hands grasping your shoulders to steady you.

Huh...?

“Are you alright?” A cold hand makes contact along the expanse of your forehead and you subconsciously lean into the touch. “You’re burning up... When was the last time you rested?”

At the prompt, you strain your eyes to the left. Eyes squinting, you can barely make out a blurry figure, but the mesh of white, purple, red, and tan has you murmuring his name, “Cyno...?”

“Yes, it’s me.” His image wavers, and you can no longer distinguish his features. “You... last slept... hey... [...me]!”

His voice bleeds into white noise — drowned out by the world tipping on its axis before eventually it, too, is consumed by darkness.

--

Groaning through the overbearing warmth and fragmented light against your closed eyes, you breathe out a sigh and shuffle in place, trying to find a comfortable spot. Burrowing further into the duvet you feel yourself relaxing.

A musky scent surrounds you; one that’s warm and familiar, tinged with an aroma of worn pages and nature. The blends are few and far between, and yet they harmonize perfectly — its calming undertones help further relax you.

In the back of your mind, there’s a nagging feeling that there’s something you’re forgetting. But just what is it...

Your eyes snap open, heart lurching.

“Ah! The paperwork!”

In the midst of your frantic actions, a weight falls off your shoulders and tumbles onto your lap. Mouth agape and breathing erratic you look down, only to blink at the familiar item.

Alhaitham’s cape...?

“Lie down.”

Your shoulders jump when a voice comes from your left. Before you have time to protest, you feel yourself gently pushed back into bed, the covers lifted back up to your chin and Alhaitham’s cape draped on top once more. Though your movements are slightly restricted, you can still just about turn your head.

Alhaitham’s silhouette against the sunrise is hunched in your chair; elbows on knees, hands wrung together, and gaze focused on the ground. When your sight clears up, you notice his hair looks more dishevelled than usual.

You continue watching him as he heaves a light sigh and reaches over to his side. His hands wring a small cloth, water seeping out as his knuckles turn white from the pressure exerted. When he turns to you, the newly dampened cloth laid across your forehead, he doesn’t make eye contact. No, it’s more like he’s avoiding looking at you in general.

An awkward cough escapes you and he flinches ever so slightly at the sound. “How long have I been out for?”

“Two days.”

“I see,” you murmur. “Ah. Where’s Cyno? It’s kinda blurry, but the last I remember is him waking me up.”

“He’s busy.”

“Oh... Okay.”

A suffocating silence lapses over you after his blunt responses. It’s been a while since he’s spoken like this to you, so you’d be a bit of an idiot to not realise he’s mad. As for the reason why... Well, you’d rather not acknowledge the cause, even if you have a feeling he’ll bring it up sooner or later.

“[Name],” Alhaitham calls, voice low and even.

Averting you gaze, however hard you may wish for it, doesn’t help you avoid the inevitable confrontation set in stone. (That still doesn’t stop you from subtly lifting up the covers.)

His voice comes out weak and fuzzy against the ringing in your ears. “Why... didn’t you say anything? That you were ill? Were you going to just sit through it and not say a single word at all? Did you plan on pulling all-nighters again, even when you were on the verge of collapsing? What do you think would’ve happened if I didn’t overhear some scholars talking about how you fainted and had to be carried by the General Mahamatra?”

If this were you any other day, you’re sure you would’ve been over the moon at the sight of Alhaitham being the first thing you see upon waking up — taking care of and worrying over you on top of that. But alas, you’re sick and the string of questions he directs towards you does nothing but irritate you, the dull ache that previously lingered like white noise now blaringly clear.

“I don’t know. I guess I just—” you wince at the pain shooting through your head, “—I just thought there was no point so long as I get it done quickly then rest after. It was my fault I left it till recently.”

“Besides,” you add in a whisper, straining your eyes in an effort to stay awake, “you don’t like incompetent people, and I... didn’t want you to think that of me...”

“...”

It was quick.

One moment you felt warm and feverish, but now you feel warm and feverish and your forehead stings.

“Don’t be so stupid,” he retorts nonchalantly.

You’re dumbstruck, for a lack of better words. Through widened, bleary eyes you can just about register his unreadable expression, lips taught and brows furrowed slightly in your direction. A weak “What...?” slips through your lips, hoarse and broken.

For some reason, Alhaitham’s expression morphs. One of his hands tightens around yours (when did that get there...?) while the other reaches over to wring out a newly dampened cloth. He stays quiet, gaze avoiding yours as he focuses on wiping away the sweat clinging to your face while being mindful of the cloth already on your forehead.

“If you’re struggling, tell me. Don’t keep these things to yourself. And don’t...” he trails off with a grimace, and you barely catch sight of his lower lip tugged back by his teeth before it’s overshadowed by his hair. “Don’t ever think of yourself as incompetent again. You’re far from it.”

Oh...

Oh.

Out of all the things Alhaitham could have possibly said, you weren’t anticipating assurance and comfort.

“I... Uh... Hm. Okay,” you bumble like the fool you are, thoughts incoherent at the unexpectedly caring words. The only form of acknowledgement you received was him gently patting your hand; if you had the energy to squint, you could probably detect a teeny smile teetering the corners of his lips, but that could also be your half-delirious brain making stuff up like usual.

A cool sensation lands on your forehead, regulating the overwhelming heat permeating through your body. The sudden weight forces your eyes to close for a brief second and, upon opening them again, you find Alhaitham rummaging through his belt pouch. When he sits upright again, your attention is drawn to the object resting on his lap.

A... book?

“I’ll read to you,” he announces, probably noticing your blatant stare at the hardback cover now in his hand. He’s still avoiding your gaze, more interested in the book’s cover as his thumb traces over its surface.

There’s a brief pause.

Then, for the first time since you awoke, Alhaitham looks at you.

“It’s the new light novel from that author you like.”

“Huh? You mean...“ you trail off, eyes darting to take a closer look at the illustrated cover. A gasp soon escapes you after confirming it is, in fact, exactly what he said. “No way! You can’t even get this version unless you pre-ordered it months in advance! Wait, did you...?”

Another silence settles in your room. He averts his gaze to the side again, lips pursing as you send an accusatory stare his way, but shifts his sights back to you just as quickly.

“Enough talking, more resting.”

“But—”

“I’m opening the novel now.”

Despite your huff and low grumbles, you settle back in your bed and tug the duvet up to your chin. You listen to his low, comforting voice narrate the first couple pages, a familiar warmth vastly different to this feverish one washing over you. Your nose makes contact with the fabric of his cape and his scent surrounds you, coaxing your ailed body into a much-needed slumber.

Eyelids heavy, you use your last remaining strength to mumble your gratitude before drifting off, a content smile resting on your lips.

“Thank you, Haitham...” 

Alhaitham’s breath hitches, eyes widening and the novel in his hand nearly slips from his grasp. His head snaps up to stare at you, only to find you already fast asleep with a few soft snores escaping you. He stays silent for a moment, taking a moment to process the sleep-induced words you’d uttered; namely the nickname you addressed him with.

Right. [Name] was merely influenced by the sickness and drowsiness. Don’t read too much into it.

Even after confirming that to himself, he continues to read the novel aloud to your unconscious self, replenishing the cloth at frequent intervals and staying by your side. 

Even after confirming that to himself, Alhaitham finds himself unable to extinguish the heat that persistently clings to his skin — neither does the soft smile nor the flutter stirring in his stomach seem to have any intention of leaving; even more so at the sight of you burrowing into his cape.

Mission Status: Failed successfully!

Step 4: The fastest way to one’s heart is through their stomach! (Read: give them food.)

A lot has happened over the past couple weeks. Other than Azar and his minions being overthrown and Lesser Lord Kusanali being freed from solitary confinement by a few of your friends, Alhaitham is now the Acting Grand Sage!

Well, you only heard about this recent development from Cyno and Tighnari after returning from an expedition to decode some ancient runes in the desert. Not the welcome back you were expecting, but a welcome back nonetheless!

And upon confronting Alhaitham about his involvement in the rebellion you’d heard so much of (Cyno sure had a blast detailing his annoyance and praise over your last Genius Invokation TCG match), he merely heaved an exasperated sigh before adamantly explaining to you it wasn’t his intention to have his current position, but “Since everyone is so incompetent, I’m the only capable person who can take charge.”.

(His words, not yours.)

In all honesty, it almost feels like he’s still the scribe with how often you see him — as though nothing has changed and his duties are still the same. Though the same can’t be said with the other scholars and researchers, you suppose.

Recently, you’ve had more researchers come up and ask you to deliver papers to Alhaitham in their stead. Their reason? Well, it typically fell under one of two categories; “The Acting Grand Sage never spares us the time of day outside his work hours, and you’re our only hope...” or, “He wouldn’t turn you away or avoid you since he likes you so much.”

Maybe it’s because of the massive ego boost you’d gotten from their comments, but you now find yourself lugging a stack of papers that need to be looked over and signed, along with the freshly boxed up meal you bought earlier dangling from your other hand.

The journey back to his new office isn’t all that bad, just... a little awkward. You’re pretty sure the librarian hasn’t seen someone come and go from the (Acting) Grand Sage’s office-slash-elevator as frequently as you do, but hey! That just means you’re pretty special!

(For what it’s worth, you do kinda wish they had elevator music. Talking and humming to yourself can only do so much.)

Upon reaching the top floor and stepping off the platform, you’re greeted with the sight of Alhaitham leaning back and reading another one of his books. Ah, I feel my heart getting lighter at the sight.

“I’ve returned with food, Grand Sage!” you call out with a grin, waving your hand which carries the bag.

“Acting Grand Sage.”

“I’ve returned with food, Acting Grand Sage!”

A deadpan stare is all you receive at your quip, a sigh soon escaping him. “Why are you even addressing me with that title? Surely just saying my name is more efficient.”

“Because it’s fun, of course!” you merely laugh out in response.

A frown tugs his lips at that, eyes narrowing slightly before relaxing. He beckons you over with swift eye contact, and the chair opposite to where he’s sat is pushed back with his foot.

Wow. What a gentleman.

Plopping yourself down on the chair with an audible “Oof!”, you place the newly bought meal onto his desk. A mouth-watering scent wafts in the space between you, and you find yourself holding back a gulp at the delectable aroma. You quickly divvy up the food between you before glancing around the room.

As if reading your thoughts, Alhaitham nonchalantly says, “If you’re looking for my assistant, he’s not here.”

“Oh?” you ask between delightful mouthfuls. Swallowing down your food, you continue. “Where is he now? There should be plenty for his share too since I bought a lot this time around — or, well, I guess Lambad insisted I took more...”

There’s a small beat of silence after your words, though you barely register that fact when he speaks up again.

“No need. I’m feeling hungrier than usual, so I doubt there will be any leftovers to share.”

“Huh?” It takes you a couple seconds and a raised brow from Alhaitham for his words to register. When it does, however, you find yourself beyond ecstatic. “Oh! Of course, eat as much as you want! You need the energy for your Grand Sage duties, after all.”

“Acting Grand Sage duties.”

“Yeah, yeah, same thing.”

The rest of your lunch is spent in idle chatter and shared food. When you put more food on his side, he pushed his drink towards you or gave you more of your favourite bits.

(For someone who claimed to be really hungry, he sure was giving you a lot of food...)

Leaning back with a hefty sigh, you pat your stomach in content. Ah, Lambad never fails me, you think to yourself. Now that you’re done with your mini lunch date, it’s probably about time you head back and get your work for the day done. Your once content sigh now turns dreary, the energy you had barely seconds ago already dissipating.

Unbeknown to you, the corners of Alhaitham’s lips quirked up at your obvious dejection. Fist on cheek, he stares fondly at your ever-changing expressions; the familiarity of such a sight bringing him more comfort than he would ever let on. Eyes sweeping across the desk, his mood sours when spotting a stack of papers that wasn’t there before your arrival.

“Did those scholars bother you to run errands for them again?”

“Ah, this?” you drawl, head tilting slightly to view the contents. A low giggle escapes you when remembering the reason you originally brought it. “It’s because they can never find you.”

A huff escapes him at that comment. “Then they should have come during my work hours.”

“Apparently you’re never here when they come looking for you.”

“And? It’s not my problem they simply have bad timing.”

You all but shake your head at his antics, an amused smile blooming on your lips. Taking a quick glance at the time, you startle. Oh boy, where did the time go? Time really does fly when you’re having fun. Panic settles in you when the stack of papers needing to be sorted and signed appears in your mind. Scrambling up from your seat you spew out hasty apologies, too absorbed in your panic to notice the startled man you previously ate with.

“Aaaahh! I’m so sorry Haitham, but I really have to go! I have a million papers that need to be sorted and— gosh. How did the time fly by so quickly?! I could’ve sworn it was twelve just a minute ago—!”

“Wait!”

His voice is rushed — panicked, almost — and you find yourself unable to move. The ironclad grip on your wrist is tingling, even more so as it moves to envelop your hand completely.

His cool facade wavers slightly when you regard him with astonishment, but he gulps down his frayed nerves and steels his resolve. “Call me that again.”

“Huh? Like what?”

His hold on your hand tightens ever so slightly.

“Haitham.”

Mission Status: Success?

Step 5: Make him... jealous?

Apparently, your sad attempts have garnered Kaveh’s attention (and pity). Why else would he be at your door at 4 a.m. and suggesting you use him to make Alhaitham jealous, all the while grumbling how “It’s so painful to watch you do so much, only for that guy to do nothing.”, as well as the addition of “Maybe this time I can finally get the upper hand over him and that infuriating arrogance of his!”

“Is someone like him really going to get jealous over something so...” you trail off in thought after he explains the plan he had in mind, eyes screwing shut as you try to think of the word to describe, well, whatever it is Kaveh proposed, “so trivial? It just seems like something so beyond him to get jealous.”

“Hah!” he barks out, settling back into your sofa and patting down the blanket on his lap. “You’re kidding, right?” When you don’t respond, he levels his sight with yours, perplexed. “Wait, you really don’t know?”

“Would I be asking if I knew?” At your retort, his face freezes. He seems to have come to a realisation, if the way he instantly sits upright has anything to say about it.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Kaveh intervenes, hands resting on his temples. “Let me get this right. You’ve been pursuing him for how many years now—”

“Five years,” comes your instant reply.

“—I wasn’t expecting you to answer, but exactly. Five years. And you think something like this would be ‘trivial’ to him? That guy??” You nod; he groans. “Ugh. You’re hopeless. The both of you.”

An offended gasp escapes you. “Well, excuuuse you! I’ll have you know I’m trying my best over here.”

“Unfortunately, I’m aware of that.”

He deflates against the cushions with a sigh, lifting the fallen blanket up his torso. A slew of unintelligible grumbles leaves his lips, and you just barely make out “I still don’t understand what you see in someone so unromantic...” before shaking your head at his antics.

When you take a glimpse at the time, however, a thought sticks out in your head.

“Also, why are you here at 4 a.m.?”

“Am I not allowed to visit you at 4 a.m.?”

You blink. He blinks back.

“...Did Alhaitham take your keys again?”

Silence.

“No...” he trails off, like a liar.

That night — or morning, rather — you let the temporarily homeless Kaveh crash at your house, discussing your plans on making Alhaitham jealous.

--

As a result of your late-night plotting, you’d somehow ended up spending around a week solely in Kaveh’s presence; as per the plan, that is. According to him, if you took some time away from Alhaitham, then it would “make him question that annoying mindset of his and force him to realise what a bumbling fool he’s being!”.

(Kaveh’s words. Not yours.)

Well, you suppose taking a break from his presence wouldn’t do that much harm. The blond makes for fun company, and you would never turn down an invitation from him! In short, this plan of his just gave you an excuse to hang with him even more than you already do!

You strayed from the Akademiya as much as you both could without neglecting your work, but the majority of your time was spent with Kaveh in the House of Daena, your house, or Puspa Café. And when Alhaitham was in the nearby area, or directly approaching you both, Kaveh would be quick to pull you away to a different spot. And when he managed to catch you when you were alone outside your working duties, you would conjure an excuse before hurriedly taking your leave. (You mentally apolgised to him each time as you scurried away, not daring to look back in case your resolve crumbled.)

Luckily, today, you haven’t encountered him.

With a much needed stretch after working through the morning, you turn to Kaveh and see him doing the same as a yawn slips past his lips. You’re feeling a bit peckish now, and you’re sure he is too. Plus, the weather was pretty good so going outside wouldn’t be too bad!

“Hey, where do you wanna go for lunch today? Lambad’s—”

Though, you barely get to utter the restaurant’s name when he pulls you into an embrace, arms wrapped around you as you both sway slightly in tandem. Instantly, you realise what’s happening.

Wait, we’re starting that part of the plan now?!

Sure enough, footsteps resound from behind you, a deep and familiar voice following soon after. “So this is where you’ve been. Strangely enough, you seem busier and harder to find these days.”

Kaveh parts from you a second later, but takes your hand in his. Instantly, you see Alhaitham’s eyes dart to your interlocked fingers before returning back to you. Kaveh seems to take note as well, and deftly swings your hands in front.

“Yeah, and what of it?“ You gulp at his smug tone, mentally preparing yourself for the incoming argument they usually fall into. “But you seem to have caught us at a bad time again, because we were just on our way to a date!”

...That wasn’t part of the script?!

His hand gently squeezes around yours, and you will yourself out of your surprise. Right. This is part of the act. Even if it doesn’t sit well with you, it’s not like you have many options left!

And so with that being said, you steel your nerves and turn to face Alhaitham. Not even a second later do you find yourself faltering when you take note of his expression — blank and slightly shadowed by his hair.

“...Is that so?”

“Of course. We were just on our way to Lambad’s Tavern,” Kaveh responds before turning to you with a smile. “Weren’t we, [Name]?”

And you smile back (albeit through gritted teeth). “Haha, yes, that’s right! We were just about to have lunch.”

A pregnant pause lingers in the air after your agreement.

(Is it just you, or did the temperature suddenly drop?)

“I see,” Alhaitham finally breathes out. He spares another glance at your hands before meeting Kaveh’s eyes. “Well, I hate to be the one to ruin your plans, but I need [Name]’s help for some urgent matters.”

A scoff. “What could be so urgent for someone who makes it a point to get all his work done in advance?”

“I can assure you it’s far more urgent than your... date.”

There’s a distant sheen in his eyes as he forces out the last word. The air around you turns frigid as the two men stare each other down and, if this were depicted in a show of some sort, you’re sure lightning would crackle in the space between the two.

An agitated sigh breaks the silence. The grip on your hand loosens.

“Alright, fine. You can have [Name] for your ‘urgent matter’.” Kaveh gently nudges you forward until you find yourself standing before Alhaitham. “If you do anything strange to [Name], I’ll come and personally sort you out myself!”

Besides the brief scoff and mutter of “I’d like to see you try”, Alhaitham spares you a prolonged glance before wrapping his hand around your wrist and turning away, forcing you to follow hot on his heels. When you look back at Kaveh, all you see is a double thumbs up with an agitated expression (no doubt he heard Alhaitham’s snide remark) that screams “I told you so”.

Well, that’s no help at all.

The walk to the elevator is silent. The ride up to his office even more so. And awkward. Very awkward. You’re probably the only one feeling this awkwardness though. After all, you were the one ignoring him this past week, not the other way around, so he has no reason to feel awkward around you. In fact, Alhaitham should be more annoyed than awkward...

Ah. I’m screwed.

The lift comes to a halt when the realisation sets in, the presence of his hand on your skin even more prominent than before. He still hasn’t said a word to you. And, if you’re being completely honest here, you’re not sure whether to be grateful for that or not.

There’s an unnerving silence in the (Acting) Grand Sage’s office. Upon closer inspection, it seems his assistant isn’t here today either; only you and Alhaitham stand in the centre (of his office, and the world). As your gaze flits across the expanse of the room, you note how messy the interior appears — well, messier than usual, that is.

“I didn’t like you when we first met,” he begins; unprovoked. He doesn’t turn around, and so you’re left to gape at his back. “You were annoying and kept hovering around me, even when I made it abundantly clear I didn’t want to be bothered. You were a nuisance; a thorn in my side and I would always get irritated at the mere mention of your name.

I never understood your naivety. Were you pretending, or were you really that unaware? Why would you go out of your way to make a good impression on others? Did you have to be liked by everyone so desperately?” A harsh scoff leaves his lips, but you couldn’t tell whether that was directed to you or to himself. “I couldn’t understand you and thought of you as a fool.”

Wait… isn’t he just straight-up insulting you now?

“I couldn’t understand you back then but now, I know you like the back of my hand.” His voice remains unchanged. Perhaps if it weren’t only you two in the room, the slight waver of his voice would have gone unheard. Then he breathes out a sigh and tilts his head back, still with no intention of facing you. “Do you remember? That winter back in our first year. The one where we were partnered for a presentation.”

(Oh. He’s actually talking to you now.)

“Uh, yeah,” you stammer, “that’s the one we were given two months to prepare for, right?”

He hums in confirmation, “Do you also know, [Name]? At the time, I considered those two months we spent together to be the worst of my life.”

...What.

Too stunned to even think up a retort, he seems to take your silence as his cue to continue.

“Your views on the world; your naivety; your foolishness... I soon realised they were all qualities I had merely made up, simply because I couldn’t grasp your intentions until I actually talked to you. Hah,” he laughs, bitter and remorseful, “it turned out I was the naive one, and that made me question my values.

At the end of our project, I came to realise it wasn’t anything to do with your disposition, but more so my feelings for you. I knew what it was but, at the same time, I denied them. I avoided you more than anything in hopes of them dying out. But... they didn’t. They only grew stronger, as if to mock me for my vain efforts.”

And then he turns — slowly, hesitantly — knitted brows and lower lip caught between his teeth. It’s bashful and shy and tentative; and yet you’re sure his eyes have never held such a confident and resolute glint before now. And now, with both of your hands engulfed in his, he continues on.

“Ever since accepting my feelings, I grew more aware of your presence. No matter where I looked, no matter where my thoughts were, you were always there. I soon came to value your opinion and thoughts of me when I hadn’t cared about such things before. With time, they grew stronger. More desperate. And when realising that just being by you was no longer enough, I... became greedy.”

(Alhaitham has a vague sense to stop here, but he can’t. He won’t let this chance to reveal the true nature of his feelings slip by.)

There’s a small beat of silence as he lowers his head — foreheads touching and noses brushing.

"I want to kiss you, hold you, experience all the mundane and extraordinary things life has to offer with you. I want to be there for you and grow old with you, and...” His hold on you tightens, angling his head to get a better view of you, and for you to see his glossy eyes and near-trembling smile. “And I want to keep your smile in my eyes for the rest of my life. If this isn't love, then I'll probably never know love for the rest of my life."

Your mind’s a mess; jumbled and incoherent. Unfocused, your eyes dart from every dip of his face to the furniture in the background, unable to keep your mind and concentration at bay from his sudden confession. His eyes bore into you, seemingly inching closer and closer; so close they’re all you can see, speckles of umber and teal that would usually go unnoticed becoming very prominent.

Somehow, he leans in even closer. Your mind blanks, throat parched and senses going into overdrive.

“Wait, Alhaitham—”

“No,” he interrupts, his unwavering gaze never once straying from you. “I refuse to wait any longer than I already have. I should have said this long ago when I realised our feelings were mutual, as opposed to waiting it out for so long.”

And then you hear it.

“I love you.”

“What...”

“If you need me to say it a thousand times over just so you understand, then so be it.” His eyes soften considerably, a smoldering passion now unconcealed and consuming you whole. “I love you, [Name]. I’ve loved you for a long time, and I’ll continue loving you for even longer.”

You want to respond. No, you have to respond. After years of showing your affections you finally received a clear response. You should be jumping in his arms and professing your love again! So why...

Why can’t you say anything...?

The pad of his thumbs gently swipe under your eyes, catching beads of tears you hadn’t realised were accumulating. The residue follows the path of his thumb, dampening your cheekbones as his hands slide to cup your cheeks. 

“Are you backing out now?” he breathes out, a silent laugh puffing from his lips. “After all this time you’ve spent pursuing me, and you go silent when I confess my undying love for you?”

“Ah, no, I just... can’t believe it, I guess,” you respond sheepishly after regaining yourself. In a haze of excitement, you turn slightly to fist-bump yourself, his cupped hands following your slight movement. “Your efforts have finally paid off, [Name]!”

Just then, a small “Bfft” rings out. You blink and cautiously turn your focus to the man wearing a stoic expression in front of you.

“Did you… just laugh?”

“I didn’t,” comes his instantaneous response.

(A bright grin alights your face at that, and Alhaitham finds it hard to not kiss you right then and there.)

“You liar. You so did!”

“You’re just hearing things.”

“Yeah, because I just totally heard you turn your head in a failed attempt to hide that laugh—!”

Your words are muffled, swallowed and silenced by his lips on yours. An overflowing warmth seeps through the point of contact. It traverses through your body, now hyper-aware of every strand of his hair tickling your cheeks, to the pads of his fingers searing your skin, to even the faintest brush of his clothes against you.

His touch is warm and all-consuming — and you find yourself leaning in for more.

(Strange. You thought his lips would be a little rough, but they were actually quite soft.)

Slowly, your lips detach. He lingers and hovers over you, everything from half-lidded eyes to his lips brushing against yours consuming you whole. When you try to move back to cool down, he follows; an aimless pursuit for your touch.

“I think you talk too much,” he finds himself murmuring, mind still reeling from what just transpired. Your dazed blinks-turned-smile sets his heart alight at such an adorable sight only he is privy to, as he relishes in the warmth diffused from your cheeks to his palms.

“Hehe, but you like it though— let gwo obf my cheeks.”

In the midst of your complaints, Alhaitham grins, eyes crinkling at the corners as he stares at your puckered lips from his hands smushing your cheeks. How cute... he muses to himself, before planting a chaste, lingering kiss on your forehead.

“By the way,” he whispers against your skin, “your little act with Kaveh hasn’t been forgotten.”

“Uggh. You’re sho stingyy...”

“Hm, perhaps. But you like it.”

Alhaitham had never seen you with such a dumbfounded expression until now.

Mission Status: Who cares? You just won in life! (But also: success!)

“Ugh. They’re at it again.”

Aether and Paimon share a glance upon hearing Kaveh’s grumbles. They follow his line of sight to see what put the architect in such a state, only...

“Is that... Alhaitham?!”

Paimon’s cry earns her more than a few glares from researchers, scholars, and students alike, but that’s not the main issue. The main issue here is in a far corner tucked away in the House of Daena sits you and Alhaitham, the man in question pinching and tugging your cheeks as you try (and ultimately fail) to swat his hands away.

The travel duo had met you a handful of times. Within those few meetings, Aether had thought of you as someone sincere and resolute, whereas Paimon had deemed you as the “nice researcher with the tastiest food recommendations!”. And within those few meetings, never would they have guessed your relationship with Alhaitham.

“Oh?” Kaveh cocks a brow at their apparent surprise. “You didn’t know they’re dating? That guy is so obvious about it with how clingy he is.”

Aether hurriedly covers Paimon’s mouth before she could spew another set of cries that would surely put them in the bad books of the nearby occupants.

A beat of silence passes. A distinct murmur from your direction can be heard amidst the faint scribbling of pen on paper and the rustling of pages being turned. And then comes a sigh from beside them.

“Y’know, that guy’s been in love with [Name] for as long as I can remember, and probably even before then,” Kaveh starts, arms crossed over his chest as he stares at you quietly giggling away at something Alhaitham whispered. “He was so obvious about it too with his blatant favouritism. And even then he never outright acted on his feelings — that were very much reciprocated, mind you — until a few months ago! If it weren’t for me, this whole thing could’ve taken another few years!”

Aether and Paimon share another glance before focusing back on Kaveh and his seemingly never-ending rant.

“Honestly,” he huffs, head shaking in line with his exasperation and still in his own world, “I still have no clue what he’s thinking. For all I know, he probably just wanted to see how far [Name] would go; that smug bastard. Wouldn’t surprise me.”

While Aether awkwardly chuckles at the tagged insult, Paimon continues to watch your shared interaction in wonder — namely the smile which adorns Alhaitham’s lips.

“Wow. Paimon can’t imagine a guy like him being in love...”

Kaveh scoffs. “There’s no need to imagine it when he’s so blatantly love-struck right in front of us. However...” he trails off when you nudge Alhaitham, the new angle allowing the trio to witness him chuckling fondly at your action before placing a kiss on your cheek. A light sigh slips past Kaveh’s lips, “I’m glad they’re finally together.” 

“Why so?” Aether asks, head tilting at the man’s change in tone.

“It was painful to watch.”

“Ah...”

if you enjoyed this, then reblogs with/or comments are greatly appreciated !! <33

general taglist : @tiredsleep​​​ @hannas16​​​ @volexis​​​ @ladycoleigh​​​ @sea-of-dandelions​​​ @fandangotales​​​ @absolutely-rational​​ @starforecasts​​​ @lilikags​​​ @astranne​​​ @irethepotato​​​ @usertsubaki​​​ @anarile​​​ @yanderealm​​​ @kamiiyaka​​​ @myaaki​​​ @daphluc​​​​​ @nachotrash​​​​

(if u would like to join my general taglist, then pls fill out this form !!)

+ @sheepispink​​​​

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

6/18/2024 - 06/19/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Leslie Jones; Vico Ortiz; Nathan Foad; Anapela Polataivao; Kristian Nairn; Dominic Burgess; Kay Buchanan; Relax I'm From The Future Special Edition; Articles; Fiber Arts Brigade; Gotcha for Gaza; Love Notes; Daily Darby / Today's Taika;

== Rhys Darby ==

So Rhys has decided to send us all to Costa Rica again.

The running theory as to WHY Rhys has decided to give us a topless shot is because of this lovely post by our dear crewmate Moosh, where they requested we post tits on the tl when WBD got down to below $7.

Now that was back on June 17th. Guess what just so happened to happen on June 18th?

So yes, the current theory is that Rhys quite literally did #TitsUpWBD for all of us. Just. Wow.

Source: Rhys Darby Instagram / Moosh's Twitter / WBD Nasdaq

== Taika Waititi ==

Taika was out at the premier of The BikeRiders! Lots of shots both on and off the carpet! Are those Pearls I spot?

@keshiasih's Instagram

Bikeridersfilm Instagram / TylerDisneyOfficial Instagram

Source: @fuckyeahworldoftaika's Tumblr

== Vico Ortiz ==

Vico's got so much going on! Spark comes out on the 24th! Don't tell my Mother comes out on the 25th! Spark Film / Don't Tell My Mother

Source: Vico Ortiz Instagram

== Leslie Jones ==

Leslie's gonna be doing live showes starting in Sept! Preorders are live tonight through tomorrow at 10pm local. https://linktr.ee/lesdogggg

Source: Leslie Jones Twitter

== Kristian Nairn ==

Reminder! Kristian is going to Yorkshire Comic Con this weekend! If you're in town consider dropping by! He also just dropped another episode of Spektrum! Check it out in the link below. https://linktr.ee/kristiannairn

Source: Kristian Nairn's Instagram

== Anapela Polataivao ==

Did you know that our dear Auntie directed the new performance of Red White and Brass going on in AoNZ? Well she's out at the premiere! If you're in AoNZ please check them out!

Source: Anapela's Instagram

== Nathan Foad ==

Nathan out and about with friends!

Source: MonicaHeisey's Instagram / Nathan's Instagram Stories

== Dominic Burgess ==

Dominic is up for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series for American Horror Stor:y Delicate! Keeping fingers crossed Dominic gets an Emmy!

Source: Dominic's Twitter

== Kay Buchanan ==

Our lovely leatherworker Kay Buchanan has posted some more pictures (some dupes some not) of more leather work she did for OFMD! I ran out of image room on the recap so I made a side post-- please visit it below to see more!

More parephenalia BTS

Source: Kay Buchanan's Instagram

== Relax I'm From The Future ==

One of Rhys' movies-- Relax I'm From The Future has come out with a special edition version with additional improv by Rhys and much more! The link is below! Amazon Link

Source: Luke Higginson's Twitter

== Articles ==

Our friends over at @adoptourcrew spotlighted another article related to WBD. Warner Bros Discovery Falls Apart.

Source: Adopt Our Crew's Twitter

== Gotcha For Gaza ==

The awesome people over at @ofmdaction are still looking for more writers and artists! If you're interested please sign up here! More information on the event here!

Source: OFMDAction Twitter

== Fiber Arts Brigade ==

Our crewmates over at the Fiber Arts Brigade have reached their first and second tier goal for the #ThriveAsACrew fundraiser for SAGE USA! They've put together the first and second Cameo reward (provided by a generous donor, NOT from the raised funds) and you're welcome to check them out! 1st Up is Christopher Corbin (aka Magic Man in the Republic of Pirates)! You can watch it on their Twitter/Facebook page!

2nd is Damien Gerard! (aka Father Teach)

"Interested in donating to SAGE and getting to the next tier of the Cameo rewards? Please visit #ThriveAsACrew in support of SageUSA! Haven't had a chance to see which auction items were listed today? Check them out here: FiberArtBrigade Ebay Or...Want to donate a textile item of your own to be included in round two for release next weekend? Visit the Donation Form!" Source: Fiber Arts Brigade Twitter

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Cast Cards =

Tonight's first Cast Card features Yvonne Zima! One of our lovely writers, as well as "an actress featured on the hoity-toity party boat listed as Fleur de Maquis"! Next up is Richard B. another one of the folks in The Republic of Pirates! Thank you @melvisik for keeping up with these even on your vacation!

Source: @melvisik's Twitter

== Love Notes ==

Hey there lovelies! I realise it's a double day today but I wanted to say Happy Juneteenth to all our crewmates out there. This really is an important day in American History, and it continues to highlight each year why it's so important we learn from history and we don't white wash or shy away from the hard topics of our past. Today I'd like to share some quotes/love notes from Cole Arthur Riley, and some of histories brilliant Black writers/philosophers. Take care lovelies, rest well, we've only got half a week left, and then it's back to the weekend. Sending so much love your way.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Black Liturgies (@blackliturgies)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Black Liturgies (@blackliturgies)

Source: Black Liturgies on Instagram

== Daily Darby / Today's Taika ==

Today's theme is Relax I'm from the future, and because Taika is not in that movie, I'm gonna use one of my favorite reaction gifs instead. It will never get old. Gifs courtesy of the absolutely sweetest, most amazing folks out there, @bizarrelittlemew and @ofmd-ann. Tumblr would be a sad, lonely place without all the lovely gifs you both bring to it <3

[quitealotofsodapop]

Alsowe beentalkingin the notes, but this deserves its own ask. Imagine, just a moment, Xiwangmu and Jade Emperor's reaction to Wukong's miscarriage. Both when the event happens... and later on, when a very pregnant Sun Wukong stands before them pleading for sanctuary when the Lady Bone Demon threatens him and his second unborn cub, and during the proceeds, they discover who Wukong's mother was.

On one hand, the Jade Emperor's actions had directly led to Wukong being on that Journey, had he and the Buddha not sealed him under the mountain or had he been more patient or merciful towards Wukong, more understanding, the monkey might never have lost his first born. The sheer guilt he must have felt when he learned of the miscarriage.

On the other, Wukong is now standing before him, humble in a way he had never seen the monkey in his entire life, pregnant with a rainbow baby, and pleading for help to keep them safe. And then, shortly after pledging his assistance, he discovers that Wukong had, in fact, been his spirit grandchild this entire time! This means that child he still felt guilty and remorse for all these years later... enough to promise one of his greatest enemies of all time his protection... had been his firstborn great-grandson.

And that's just the emperor. That's nothing on how Xiwangmu feels. She'd already inadvertently cursed her female heirs to have difficult pregnancies, and now she discovers that false to the sole male heir that are capable of procreation without a partner amd he had already lost a cub once.

Prev. Lots of talking in the Notes.

Recap: Once Macaque realises that LBD will stop at nothing to be free and enact her plans for world destruction, he decides that he must find a way to prove that he's sorry to the person he's hurt the most. So he asks Guanyin to give him the Circlet to ensure that he can never hurt Wukong, his child, or his friends, ever again.

This act convinces Wukong (and somewhat the others) that Macaque is being honest in his remorsefulness. But he isn't quite back to speaking terms just yet.

Of course LBD still gets loose, manipulating a fiery little bull calf who just wanted his family to be happy and whole again in to using her Skeleton Key.

And with Bull still imprisoned and Wukong too weakened in his condition to free him, there's no chance of reforging the Samadhi Fire.

So Sun Wukong, along with his reincarnated Pilgrim brothers and his new allies (and his former-mate, arrested by Nezha), comes before Heaven and Hell seeking help in saving the world.

The courts ask him for why he cannot defeat the White Bone Spirit as he'd done before, only for the Great Sage to reluctantly explain that he is with child and cannot fight her in his condition.

The silence inside the courtroom is deafening.

For you see, Xiwangmu was privy to the loss of Wukong's First Egg the moment he cried out to the Heavens at also losing his mate. She had not known he was able to carry young, but was heartbroken on his behalf nonetheless. The Jade Emperor too felt remorseful, the monkey he had punished so severely sobbing into his wife and daughters' arms at the loss of both his child and mate. The Jade Emperor find himself crying too, him and his wife know the pain of a parent losing their child all too well.

So now there's Sun Wukong the once self-declared Great Sage Equal to Heaven, before them once more after nearly five centuries of hiding. His belly round (a "Rainbow Baby" the Ao-Long family calls it) and his eyes watery as he pleads for their help.

Macaque still receives a gruelling Trial. Xiwangmu in particular is not forgiving of the actions that lead to the loss of Wukong's first child. Luckily the Ten Kings and Kṣitigarbha are there to explain the shadow monkey's sheer guilt and grief at learning of the First Egg's existence, and how his despair was so great that something older than Diyu itself had consumed him. And how his soul soared to revive after it was announced that the child was soon to be reborn. The actions of a remorseful mate and future father (both eggs still containing his dao) wishing for penance from his immortal mate in order to reunite with them in the world of the living.

The fact that Macaque was willing to bargain his soul to a primordial Bone Demon is forgiven given his reasoning to return.

The world below continues to freeze and crumble as Sun Wukong and his allies plea for Heaven's assistance.

The Jade Emperor gives the command for the armies of Heaven to begin chipping away at the Bone Demon's corruption. Xiwangmu barely has time to come forward and bless Wukong's child when the heroes leave to join the fight.

A lot of chaos happens on the ground. The Bone Demon becomes frustrated that her threats of death and attempts of control do not work on Macaque, the Circlet on his head incapacitating him with a single syllable from Nezha, Tieshan, or Tang's lips. He smiles at the demon through clenched teeth as she tries to drag his limbs forward, accepting the pain of the Circlet if it means he can no longer hurt his allies.

The Thrall is quickly dealt with. Sandy still has yet to take his vow of pacifism when he gets his hands on the smiling puppet that's been harassing his friends the last couple of months.

So LBD decides to do the next best thing. If she needs the Harbinger's soul to complete her weapon, what's better than possessing it's power-drained parent?

Wukong and Macaque are forced to fight once more, this time in order for Macaque to save Wukong and the Egg from LBD's possession. LBD's hold is broken when Macaque grabs Wukong's hands, interlocking them with his own, and places them against the King's round stomach. Kicks so strong and healthy that both cannot help to feel and hear it. Wukong sobs with joy, his baby and his mate are truly alive once more!

LBD screams and rushes towards Wukong - deciding that if she cannot destroy this world, she will destroy the simian or his whelp once and for all.

A sky-shattering roar erupts as a massive war-form of a Spiritual Monkey endures the demoness's strike.

But it's not Wukong.

Macaque proves in this moment that he is truly Sun Wukong's equal. In front of Heaven, Hell, Earth, their troop, and more importantly; Wukong himself.

Not much is left of LBD for the Ten Kings to collect. They grant Macaque an aquittal for neutralizing a threat to all the Realms, allowing him to remain on Earth with his mate and future child.

As the adrenalin drops, Macaque reverts to his normal form, now painted with sickly blue vines and patches of fur bleached white from the attack of death magic. Through his pain, he asks Wukong if he and the Egg are ok. Wukong wraps his arms around his mate for the first time in millennia, sobbing with thanks and relief.

The Egg continues kicking violently as it's parents reconcile, annoyed by all the disturbance. Eventually it decides that it should make it's presence known in a *louder* way.

(*Wukong still hugs Macaque tight*) Macaque, ears flickering: "What's that water balloon sound?" Wukong: "Huh? What water-" Wukong: (*look of realisation and terror as his water breaks*) Guanyin, teleporting onto the scene: "IT'S GO TIME PEOPLE."

And of course you can imagine the joy and tiredness that follows in the birth of "Little Heaven". And the uncertainty when both of their parents are put on tight medical observation, Wukong from nearly dying in childbirth, and Macaque from his injuries. All of Heaven adn Hell seems to come forward to aid the small family's survival.

Pigsy ends up being the only one able to calm and feed the crying newborn in absence of their parents. Tieshan nearly moves back into the palace as she helps tend to her brother-in-law and his family, not caring if all of the Celestial Realm sees her or her half-demon child. Guanyin sits like a vigil over the two monkeys, rarely even moving out of fear of missing their awakening.

Xiwangmu becomes suspicious of her reincarnated daughter's attitude during this time and decides to investigate some things in the Underworld. And of course you can imagine how her and the Jade Emperor feels when they discover that Wukong's own mother was the first reincarnation of the same lost eldest daughter. And that the very child Wukong had lost all those years ago was their first great-grandchild. And how much they feel guilt at the fact Xiwangmu's curse had spread to her grandson - taking his both his mother and his first child, while even nearly taking his life in the birth of his second.

Xiaotian - the "Little Heaven" - is almost literally a rainbow in the lives of everyone who encounters him from then on.

[guiltyasdave]

hello hello and welcome to another edition of my weekly fic recap aaaand it’s a big one! (seriously, does this bitch ever stop reading lol)

for every fic that i’ve ever recced, find my rec masterlist here :)

i'll sort the fics by character and add emojis to indicate the contents a little. still, please look at the tags/warnings and decide for yourself if something might not be your cup of tea.

💘= fluff • ❤️‍🔥= smut • 🤍= angst • 🖤= dark

joel miller

make a move on me & won’t you suffer for the angels to fly? by @freelancearsonist ❤️‍🔥

smother (chapter 10) by @beardedjoel 💘❤️‍🔥🤍🖤

oasis by @beardedjoel ❤️‍🔥🖤

diehard & cry, baby by @gutsby ❤️‍🔥

woman by @dancingtotuyo 💘❤️‍🔥🤍

high infidelity (chapter 2) by @dancingtotuyo 💘🤍

helen (chapter 4) 💘❤️‍🔥🤍 by @kiwisbell

out of date by @penvisions ❤️‍🔥

passing notes: nsfw by @burntheedges 💘

tarnished but so grand by @morning-star-joy 💘

watch by @luxurychristmaspudding 💘❤️‍🔥

say you can’t sleep, baby, i know by @beskarandblasters 💘❤️‍🔥

the kindness of strangers by @schnarfer 💘

could be by @corazondebeskar-reads 💘❤️‍🔥

mine, all mine by @thetriumphantpanda ❤️‍🔥

dave york

sedated by @luxurychristmaspudding ❤️‍🔥🤍

the stranger by @punkshort 💘❤️‍🔥🤍

know better by @pedroshotwifey ❤️‍🔥

in sight by @goodwithcheese ❤️‍🔥

marcus pike

sage by @dancingtotuyo 💘

oberyn martell

reaching for the sweetest, sweetest peaches by @psychedelic-ink ❤️‍🔥

dark paradise by @vermillionwinter ❤️‍🔥🤍

sit on the throne by @prolix-yuy ❤️‍🔥🖤

the thief

what strange claws are these by @missredherring ❤️‍🔥🖤

frankie morales

frankie sneaking away to call you by @sweetercalypso 💘

one of your girls by @joelscruff 💘❤️‍🔥

watch by @luxurychristmaspudding 💘❤️‍🔥

dieter bravo

low hanging fruit by @covetyou ❤️‍🔥

if wishes came true by @schnarfer 💘🤍

javier peña

retired night school teacher by @wildemaven 💘

within you/without you by @ozarkthedog 🤍

closer to light by @sp00kymulderr ❤️‍🔥

din djarin

when the sun came up, you were looking at me by @freelancearsonist 💘🤍

my own writing

safe and sound (chapter 2) - joel miller x f!reader 💘🤍

glitch - javier peña x f!reader ❤️‍🔥

if you read and enjoy any of these fics, please remember to give some love to the writers! 🫶🏻

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Do you think Rollo, Fellow and Gidel could be in the main story? And if that's possible, could the events where they appear be canon? Or maybe they have an entire chapter giving them more development?

As much as I would love for the Halloweenies (yes, that's what I'm going to call Rollo, Fellow, Gidel, and any other subsequent new character introduced for TWST's Halloween season event) to show up in the main story and get further development, I don't think it's feasible within the current "canon" timeline. There's a good reason why Yana said that vignettes and story events don't always fit within the main story: it's because most of them would make zero sense if they happened within the single school year where all the OB stuff pans out. This is, of course, also true of Glorious Masquerade and Stage in Playful Land.

The main issue is that important details would automatically become continuity errors. Both GloMasq and Playful Land occur around Halloween, with Playful Land happening during the holiday prep and the conflict of GloMasq taking place on Halloween Night itself. But... this can't be the case for the main story because that creates faults in logic. Yuu does not learn who Malleus is until book 5, which occurs all the way in mid to late winter--yet if GloMasq were canon in the main story, then Yuu would have already have knowledge of his true identity (since Malleus's peers are all addressing him by name). Furthermore, Yuu should only know the first few dorms' members by mid/late autumn in the main story, yet they act like they're already acquainted with all of the students in the Halloween events. Why, then, would Yuu/the boys act confused or as if they don't know these people/Yuu when meeting them later in the main story?

This goes even deeper than just making issues surrounding Yuu. GloMasq and Playful Land becoming "main story canon" disrupts the storylines in place for other characters in the main story. Deuce's UM, for example, is integral to Rollo's defeat. However, Deuce does not actually develop said UM until book 5, which, again, takes place in the mid to late winter time. It's not possible for Deuce to have his UM in autumn, when GloMasq happens. Additionally, Ortho is shown in his College Gear for the Playful Land event, which he does not canonically get until the end of book 6. Book 6 takes place shortly after book 5, meaning probably late winter or early spring, which is way after Halloween.

We cannot say that GloMasq and Playful Land occur in the year after Yuu's first. While this could explain away Yuu's wonky relationships with everyone, Deuce's UM, and Ortho being a full student, this doesn't explain why the third years are still present or why everyone is in the same grade level they'd still be in for the year that Yuu joins NRC. The first years would be second years, second years would be third years, and third years wouldn't even be around anymore; they'd be away on their internships, most of which are not on Sage's Island.

Another potential problem is that the Halloweenies showing up in their own dedicated main story chapters spoils the people who didn't play their respective events. (This is assuming that TWST would give a recap of the events Rollo, Fellow, and Gidel came from; it robs the original event stories of their impact because the truth is that a summary can never do the full event justice. However, there is no avoiding this because otherwise not everyone would have context for the Halloweenies.) It's either that, or the players get no context whatsoever for who these characters are or what their relevance is, which interferes with trying to tell a story about their development and getting the out-of-the-loop players to care about their growth. It's not like you can go back and read the original events whenever you want either, you had to have played through the events in full when they were originally running (or rerunning) in order to see the stories in your albums.

Anyway 💀 as you can see, there would be a multitude of issues in trying to squeeze Rollo, Fellow, and Gidel into the main story. Not saying that it's completely out of the question, but it seems very unlikely to me unless TWST does a rug pull and introduces canonical diverging timelines within the game's main story narrative or something. Right now, I definitely do not see the Halloweenies being incorporated in that way. At best, maybe we'd get more official content of them if they ever got more card releases or something.

[crowleybigbang]

Crowley Big Bang 2024 Recap

And so, summer has come and passed, and so has this round of the Bang. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who let us play with their souls, be it by being tortured by deadlines, drafts, reviews and levels, or just by letting the wonderful creations ruin their days in the best possible way.

Here's a recap of our stories, so you can indulge and get ready for the next round. They're listed in posting order.

Love Is A Bet, A Wild One - written by @doctorprofessorsong with art by @vibe-howie can be read here and the art is here.

Unum Diem - written by @butterflyslinky and arted for by @hobbitual-psychick-art-stuff. Read it here and admire the art here!

Meditations on Schrödinger was written by @risingphoenix761 with art from @sagee-sketches read it here and find the art here!

The lovely @thisisbugsy wrote "Darwin's Theory". Go read it here!

The Monster Outside Is Frightful is a piece written by @ichbinnurzugast and arted by @midnightsilver, which you can read here. You can also admire the art and the process to get it here.

Then came The Cold Certainly Bothers Me Anyway with art from @jenniferb-art and a story by @hectatess. Read it here and find the art embedded in the story!

The King Of Another Hell followed. It was a story written by @12gittens which was arted by @charie-caphine. Art and story can be enjoyed here!

Runaway Hellhound was the fruitful collaboration between @celestialstarlight27 and @sinister--potato. Read the story here and gaze upon the art here!

Hell's (Wedding) Bells was the piece born from @jenniferb-art and @ravenfuchs efforts. You can read it here and you can enjoy the art here!

To Hell And Back came from @additionaladdams' pen and with art from @sagee-sketches. Story's here while the amazing art is here.

The Demon And The Derby came from @panthera-dei's mind and had stunning art from @writingfromkitchenator. Enjoy the story here and admire the art here!

The Black Church Of The Sunken Island closed this round. The story was written by @walkingaline and the art was created by @writingfromkitchenator (for a third-time collaboration). Story here and more amazing art here!

We also had a story from @nickelkeep who had a few technical issues, but the art from @zissie is still up, and you can enjoy it here!

And... this is all, for now. Thank you again to everyone involved!

[wonderpetals]

finch is the other half of tina's twin boys with yasemin. growing up, finch struggled a little as he was a bit quiet and awkward compared to his brother who was always quite popular. fox had always been yasemin's favorite as well and so, when they eventually moved in with clementine and violet, finch was so grateful for the love and acceptance that his new stepfamily showed him and became very close with them.

finch loved computers and technology and video games all his life and later got into streaming and playing online with friends he had met there. that along with his supportive family helped him finally build confidence! finch became a well-adjusted adult who was very witty and jovial. he cared deeply about his family and had great relationships with all of them. he was often the one they would go to for support and advice.

while playing games online, he met a girl named gemma who he immediately clicked with, and they would game together and talk almost every night. she ended up living just a few towns away from him and so they were able to meet and soon after began dating. they ended up falling in love, getting married, and starting a family!

finch became a successful computer engineer and he and gemma had three children: malia, danika, and tristen. finch was also like a second (better) dad to fox's son, parker, who would regularly go over to see finch whenever his parents were yelling or mistreating him. after the moms passed, finch and his family moved into the beautiful and spacious home that they had all grown up in, as a unanimous decision between all the siblings (except for fox, who was pretty salty about not getting to take it for himself).

[charlotte-official]

The Steambird - A Recap Spanning Roughly 10 Days!

Kaeya is still stuck on the mountain freezing to death with lisa. But hey, at least now diluc finally got to dragonspine after like.. two weeks. They are now finally descending down the mountain. Kaeya is still freezing to death.

Alas! Winery Owner Finally Manages to Make it up the Mountain to Save his Adopted Brother!

Kaeya Alberich, the Knights of Favonius’ Cavalry Captain, being still stuck on Dragonspine with Lisa Minci ultimately freezing to death with his Knights of Favonius colleague, is finally getting down the mountain!

Diluc Ragvindr finally made it up to rescue the two KoF members. He is now descending down the mountain with his adoptive brother in arms and the librarian trailing behind him as they rush towards the camp near the base of the mountain.

Kaeya, however, appears to be in quite the serious condition.

Will Kaeya pass from hypothermia? Or will Ragvindr and Minci be able to rescue the Cavalry Captain?

Everybody here at the Steambird waits in anticipation of the results. We hope Kaeya will make it out alive!!

Diluc still hates the fatui and continues to squabble with UTA.

Esteemed Dawn Winery Owner.. Continues to Squabble with Fatui Harbinger Clone as Would a Cranky Old Married Couple.

That’s it. That’s the story.

Kaveh gets confronted on having not taken care of himself as of late and anons scold him and attempt to make him take care of himself more

He is currently opting to hide out in a ruin for the next century like how madame faruzan accidentally got stuck in a ruin for 100 years.

Anon threatens to call his friends TIghnari- a forest ranger, Cyno- the general Mahamatra, and Scribe Alhaitham. (which I continue to believe is entangled in some affair with the architect!)

Famed Ksharewar Architect Accused of not Taking Care of Himself.. and Being in a Relationship with the Former Acting Grand Sage of the Akedemiya?!

Kaveh, a famous architect from the Darshan of Ksharewar, was called out by an anonymous user for having not properly cared for himself!

In an ask, an anon questions him with a truth or dare question.. but regardless skips all casualties and asks a question anyway. Specifically asking how many hours the Architect has slept this week.

Kaveh reluctantly answers by counting off of his fingers.. and ending up with less than even a whole hand with fingers up.(Meaning that he’s slept for less that five hours.)

The anon then gives him a dare: go to sleep.

Kaveh instantly denies his lack of sleep and argues against the not so accusation, protesting that he for one has no eye bags and is perfectly sane and has projects to finish nonetheless.

The anon threatens to call the former Acting Grand Sage, Alhaitham, to which Kaveh is flabbergasted and demands to ask why Alhaitham of all peo

Nobody seems to believe that one though.

After some back and forth and a few threats of calling the Architects friends(the General Mahamatra, Forest Ranger Tighnari, and of course, the Former Acting Grand Sage/Akedemiya’s scribe, Alhaitham), Kaveh admits that if he must go into hiding, he says he’s thinking of going to go hide out in a ruin for the next century.

(much like how Madame Faruzan, Senior in Haravatat was stuck in a ruin for a century solving puzzles.)

Madame Faruzan pops in to ask what’s going on and Kaveh asks her to help him out.

..nevermind the anons wasted no time telling her his lack of self care.

Arataki Itto, leader of the Arataki gang, is once again scolded by his colleagues, Kuki Shinobu, the deputy leader, and Takuya the blue oni, the.. Uh.. other member. This time being for having a poster of his face plastered on a billboard in Ritou. Which, without a permit, is pretty illegal. So Kuki Shinobu tries to reprimand Itto by telling him to go take it down, but he denies saying it was his pet bull, Ushi, who put up the poster. Takuya ended up taking it down anyway.

Arataki Gang Leader Illegally Decorates Ritou Billboard.. What? What do you Mean it was his Cow?

Arataki Itto, leader of the Arataki Gang, was questioned by Arataki Gang deputy, Kuki Shinobu, of why there was a poster on a billboard in Ritou with a scrawl of Itto’s face posted illegally.

Friends of Arataki Itto, both Takuya the Blue Oni and Kuki Shinobu, question why the seemingly self portrait is up on the billboard without a permit.

Itto pops into the discussion and when the two demand for answers, he frantically blames it on Ushi. Which, despite the headline, is actually a bull.

That’s right. Arataki Itto blamed an illegal act of posting something on a billboard without a permit on the poor bull as tall as his knee.

Naturally Takuya and Kuki Shinobu did not believe his protests.

Itto flees the scene and Takuya chases after Itto.

Takuya later caves and takes the poster down himself.

Hat Guy of Vahumana learns to break out of his shell and befriends a child named Malak and now they have matching hats! How cute.

Hat Guy Softens Up for the like.. Third Time in Genshin-Official History

There’s not a lot to cover, but essentially, a small child who lives in the Birmastan steals Hat Guys hat and after returns it. The two then become friends of sort and after a recommendation from Lesser Lord Kusanali, Hat Guy takes the child, then revealed to be named Malak, to the Grand Bazaar.

Malak now has a hat.

The two now match.

Isn’t that cute?

Bennett, an adventurer notorious for being incredibly unlucky, lost his boots. Chief Alchemist Albedo and popular bartender Diona of the Cat’s Tail report that they saw them at the gates of the city.

Unlucky Adventurer Somehow Loses His Boots. Like, the Ones he was Probably Wearing. How Does That Happen?

Bennett, an adventurer from Mondstadt notorious for being incredibly unlucky but nonetheless cheerful and pleasant overall, lost his boots.

When? A few days ago. How? No idea. Where? Dunno. Where were they(the boots) found? Well, Bartender Diona, while apparently gathering dandelions near the city gate to make her next big concoction, spotted the boots near the city gates.

Albedo also says he saw the boots by the city gates.

How did the boots even get there in the first place?

I suppose only Celestia has the answer to that one..

Nameless bard confesses to having placed flowers around the City of Mondstadt. While it did look nice temporarily, it wasn't very great to clean up afterward. Diona expressed her displeasure at having to clean up after her boss, Margaret, owner of the Cat’s Tail, made her clean it up. She reluctantly forgave the bard anyway and moved on with her day.

Ghost from Mondstadt Revolution Confesses to Placing Flowers Around Mond City. Here’s the Aftereffects.

Nameless Bard, a ghost from the Mondstadt revolution who is notorious for belting out sick comebacks, admitted to encouraging the children of Mondstadt to go spreading flowers all over the City.

He did this after another very alive bard, Venti, came out to make sure nobody assumed he encouraged the children of this.

Adventurer Bennett was rather surprised that people were unhappy about the array of flowers all around the city and thought to himself that the flowers had looked nice.

Sister Barbara of the Mondstadt Cathedral and popular idol didn’t really mind the flowers and laughed it off.

Diona of the Cats Tail on the other hand was rather upset because apparently owner of the cats tail, Margaret, had made her clean up the flowers around the tavern.

She shortly after waves it off though.

Arataki Itto tries to eat Sangonomiya Kokomi, the Divine Priestess or Watatsumi Island’s fish friends. Much to her horror.

Gang Leader Itto Eats Fish. Watatsumi Island Head Priestess is Appalled.

Sangonomiya Kokomi, the head priestess of Watatsumi Island, had quipped about how cute and fascinating fish are.

Arataki Itto, leader of the Arataki Gang.. being Arataki Itto, leader of the Arataki Gang, said and I quote, “Fish, Nomnomnomnomnomnomnom”

Sangonomiya Kokomi was appalled and cried out for him to stop since she sees the fish like her children. She said, “fish are friends, not food.”

Zhongli from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, agrees with the Divine Priestess, saying that fish are not food.

Arataki Itto, for once, makes a good argument and gives the example that a dish such as Squirrel Fish exists and that fish are indeed food.

Zhongli starts talking about fish texture and Itto becomes utterly confused.

To this day, he still remains confused.

Chief Alchemist Albedo officially sets out for Sumeru and unexpectedly, Bartender Diona tags along.

Mondstadt Chief Alchemist Officially Sets out for Sumeru.. And Takes a Cat With Him.

Albedo, Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius, officially sets on a journey for Sumeru.

Probably for Nilou, esteemed dancer from Zubayr Theater,’s picnic.

This picnic was announced about a month ago and people from Fontaine to Mondstadt will be attending. It seems like quite the event.

While Albedo announces he’ll be going, Bartender Diona from the Cats Tail, practically clings onto his leg, demanding to come with him.

She apparently is sick of her job and wants to get out of Mondstadt.

Albedo let’s her come with him, and the next morning they set out for Liyue, a pit stop they will stop at before heading into Sumeru.

[tenshiharmonia]

Bayonetta Recap - Part 7

And here we are*, I think I’ve talked about everything I wanted to. I tried to flesh everything out the most I could, but as you can guess, it’s still just a pretty nebulous cluster of concepts. I wish I at least had the required skills to put all those ideas into images, but alas, I don’t, so I can only hope that my verbose descriptions were clear enough. XD Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed reading this recap as much as I enjoyed writing it. I don’t really know what will become of those characters for the time being, but it was a pleasure to share my nascent vision with you. As I said in the introduction, feel free to ask me if you have any questions regarding those characters ; I’ll do my best to answer you. And if I come up with anything new, I’ll make sure to post an addendum. For the time being, though, I’ll probably put them aside. There is a lot of other stuff I need to focus on. Of course, the release of Bayonetta 3 is more than likely to rekindle my interest in the franchise, so I’ll probably come back to these characters soon enough. But as the saying goes, let’s not put the cart before the horse. For the rest, I don’t really have anything to add. Once again though, I hope you enjoyed this ultimate recap. I don’t know how to elegantly conclude this post, but at the very least, I wish you a pleasant continuation. Until next time, take care of yourselves, and have a lovely day/evening/night (pick whatever option corresponds to your time zone :p ). See ya !

* Thank you, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, for making it impossible for me to use this phrase without feeling an ineffable sense of dread. Welcome visitors...

[sylviii]

rubbed Sage? crushed Rosemary? listen I’m glad you had fun at the trans girl orgy but I don’t need a full recap

[teecupangel]

desmond, in the grey: my dad did WHAT?!

basim, live watching the events of william bastard’s conception: this is too much for me to handle 🧍🏼💀

Connected to The William Miles Gets A Woman Knocked Up Grieving Desmond’s Death idea (and its minisequel) and the Statistically speaking she would be 30~40 years younger than him.

He appeared before Basim out of the blue. Basim didn’t even know who he was or when he had appeared. Yggdrasil’s prison kept him stationary and the Norns weren’t really programmed to try and mimic human behavior enough to keep a conversation going.

So the sudden appearance of a figure clad in the light of their devices was a welcomed sight.

Basim didn’t really mind that said figure had hijacked the Norns, connecting their processing power to his own place in the Gray.

Basim didn’t even know where in the Gray he resided, only that the figure had more access to the Calculations than Yggdrassil and the Norns had.

Basim did realize that he wasn’t there for the Norns’ access to the Calculations.

He was there to make the Norns process the might influx of information coming from the Calculations, using them to build his own processing unit catered to his specific need.

“You wish to find a future where the ‘Catastrophe Singularity’ does not occur?” Basim asked curiously as he watched the Norns be worked to their bones, feeling no sympathy over them. They were programs given human-like forms to make it easier to talk to them.

The figure did not acknowledge him and Basim continued to speak anyway, walking towards the stump that was slowly turning into a tree made of golden light, “I’ll be able to help you. I know quite a lot about the Calculations. Not as much as the Capitoline Triad, I admit, but being imprisoned here did leave me with no other avenue of entertainment other than-”

The moment he touched the stump, the Norns glitched around them and a large piece shatter from the stump, slowly floating to his eye level. Basim took a step back as he said, “I apologize, I did not mean to-”

The loud moan coming from the shard caught him off-guard, making him frown.

“Verdandi.” The form ordered and Basim felt like he recognize his voice but cannot remember where.

“January 21, 2013. Portland Oregon.” Verdandi answered immediately.

Basim blinked.

“Oh, Bill! Yes, oh fu-”

Basim glanced at the glowing form staring at him before saying, “A recap would be appreciated, Urd.”

“William Miles, drowning in guilt over the death of his son, the chosen one Desmond Miles, and the finality of his divorce, is now having a one-night stand with a descendant of Basim Ibn Ishaq. This single sexual encounter will lead to the conception of the Sage of Aletheia and Loki’s child, Fenrir.”

Basim’s eyes widened.

His son?

His son’s Sage?

How was that-

The glowing figure disappeared and Basim stared at the empty space he used to stand on.

“Not a very polite guest, is he?” Basim commented, ignoring the moans coming from both his descendant and some man named William Miles. Basim sighed and turned to look at Urd as he ordered, “Send me all important data concerning William Miles.”

Time was hard to grasp in the Gray so the most accurate way to explain what happened is was…

After an unknown time have passed, Basim absolutely regretted reading the report Urd compiled about William Miles.

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

06/21-22/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Taika Waititi; Samba Schutte; Bronson Pinchot; Jes Tom; Damien Gerard; Hugo Pierre Martin; Fiber Arts Brigade; Teal Oranges & Garlic Soup Week!; Fan Spotlight: Cast Cards; OFMPride Colouring Pages; Love Notes; Daily Darby / Today's Taika

== Taika Waititi ==

You've probably heard, but it's been announced that Taika is in talks to direct Percival Everett's Novel film adaptation 'James'!

Source: Inforo_media Instagram

More interviews with Taika at the Peabody!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Peabody Awards (@peabodyawards)

Source: PeabodyAward's Instagram

== Samba Schutte ==

Samba's new movie, Advanced Chemistry will be airing for the first time in LA on June 26th! Tickets available Dances With Films Website.

Source: Samba Schutte's Instagram

== Bronson Pinchot ==

Did you know Bronson was going to be in the new Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F movie? I didn't!

Source: Bronson Pinchot's Twitter

== Jes Tom ==

"Pride50 award ceremony held at the Edison Ballroom Monday evening in NYC" - Jes was a Queerty Honoree!

Source: Queerty's Instagram

== Damien Gerard ==

Damien is such a kind dude, he keeps sharing kitten pictures <3

Source: Damien Gerard's Instagram

== Hugo Pierre Martin ==

Our dear Hugo Pierre Martin has a new audio series on Spotify! He asked for some help from the pirate crew to checkout the new audio series and he'd share some anecdotes from the set of OFMD! There were lots -- so I tried to make a screenshot of all together-- (not sure where #3 is?- couldn't find it on the thread). Wanna give a listen? Check out The Diaries of Netovicius the Vampire - Podcast!

Source: HugoPMartin Twitter

== Fiber Arts Brigade ==

Our lovely friends over at the Fiber Arts Brigade have another Cameo, this time from the sweet Dominic Burgess! Check out the video below!

You can help support Sage USA on their direct donation link: https://give.sageusa.org/campaign/592202/donate

They'd like to remind you, you can also enter your @sageusa donation in @adoptourcrew's raffle! You can also support SAGE by checking out the Fiber Arts Auction: https://tinyurl.com/FABforSAGE

Source: Fiber Arts Brigade Twitter

== Teal Oranges & Garlic Soup Week Reminder ==

TealOranges & Garlic Soup Week Starts Tomorrow! Need a reminder of hashtags and more info? Visit their Tumblr post!

Source: Teal Oranges & Garlic Soup Week

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Cast Cards =

More cast cards from our dear friend @melvisik! The first cast card is William Meny, one of the writers aka executive story editor! The next is Edward Fletcher! "The cuckolded spouse of Eugenia. He was one of the officers in Titanic (I think the one who hears about the iceberg from the lookouts) so had to include that."

Source: Melvisik's Twitter

== OFMPride Colouring Pages ==

More colouring pages from the absolute legend @patchworkpiratebear!

Source: Adopt Our Crews Twitter

== Love Notes ==

Hey there lovelies! I realise this is really late.. I took last night off because I needed a break. I highly recommend it, it's amazing what a good nights reset can do for you. Tonight I wanted to just say a few little things... You all really are an inspiration. I keep reading more meta... more fics, and so many of you are putting up more art-- there's another prompt week starting tomorrow, I'm seeing multiple collaborations... I've been reading so many lovely letters, and seeing so many fun new gifs, and so many artists/writers being part of these wonderful donation drives. Some of you are making sweet comments, and encouraging others to create-- you are all just absolutely amazing.

You're just so damn creative and so kind, and so brilliant, and I'm really really humbled to be apart of this lovely community with you. Please know that you are so very wonderful and so very loved crew. Hope you get some rest this weekend <3

== Daily Darby / Today's Taika ==

Tonight's theme, well, I don't have one. Instead, just enjoy. Gifs courtesy of our good friends @meluli and @ofmd-ann!